Geodis, owned by SNCF, announced that it has agreed to acquire Ozburn-Hessey Logistics (OHL), a US third-party logistics provider. OHL was founded in 1951 and is a leading third-party logistics provider with more than 120 distribution centres in North America, covering 36 million square feet.

It provides a range of services, including integrated global supply chain management solutions including transportation, warehousing, customs brokerage, freight forwarding, and import and export consulting services. OHL specializes in the sectors of apparel, electronics, healthcare, food and beverage, and consumer packaged goods. OHL’s annual revenue is reported at €1.2 billion.

OHL will also be rebranded GEODIS. GEODIS offers tailor-made solutions in over 67 countries through its five lines of business: Supply Chain Optimization, Freight Forwarding, Contract Logistics, Distribution & Express and Road Transport. With over 120,000 customers and 30,000 employees, GEODIS’s annual revenue amounts to €6.8 billion.

“We are proud to welcome the customers and employees of OHL to GEODIS and to provide our global customers with OHL’s expertise and presence in the North American market” says Marie-Christine Lombard, CEO of GEODIS. “Likewise GEODIS offers a second to none global footprint for North American corporations and the clients of OHL seeking to grow internationally.”

OHL is currently owned by private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS). WCAS focuses its investment activity in two target industries: information & business services and healthcare. Since its founding in 1979, WCAS has organized 16 limited partnerships with total capital of over $22 billion.